Posts Tagged ‘neurons’
Health & Medicine - Dec 7, 2009 12:43 - 1 Comment
Brain’s balancing act key to learning
NYU (US)—Our ability to learn new information and adapt to changes in our daily environment, as well as to retain lifelong memories, appears to lie in the minute junctions where nerve cells communicate. (more…)
Health & Medicine - Dec 2, 2009 11:21 - 3 Comments
Neurons mature rapidly at birth
DUKE (US)—At the moment a newborn switches from amniotic fluid to breathing air, another profound shift occurs: nerve cells in the brain convert from hyperexcitability to a calm frame against which outside signals can be detected. (more…)
Health & Medicine - Nov 17, 2009 13:30 - 1 Comment
Progesterone’s double life
EMORY (US)—Twenty-five years ago neuroscientist Donald Stein began to suspect that women’s brains differed from men’s when it came to recovering from traumatic brain injuries. Specifically, Stein observed that female lab rats recovered more readily than males—thanks to progesterone. (more…)
Earth & Environment, Health & Medicine - Oct 26, 2009 12:07 - 0 Comments
Zebrafish do it. Why can’t we?
U. MICHIGAN (US)—Biologists long have marveled at the ability of some animals to re-grow lost body parts—newts regrow legs and zebrafish re-grow fins—and even repair damaged heart and eye tissue. Now researchers have discovered that some of the same genes underlie the process in different types of tissues. (more…)
Science & Technology - Oct 1, 2009 11:16 - 0 Comments
Brain implants coated with nanotubes
U. MICHIGAN (US)—Newly developed brain implants that can more clearly record signals from surrounding neurons in rats may lead to more effective treatment of disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and paralysis. (more…)
Science & Technology - Sep 28, 2009 18:21 - 1 Comment
Monkey brain signals mental wanderlust
DUKE (US)—Knowing when to stay with what’s familiar or when to search for something new can be tricky, especially for those with conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease. Using brain scans, researchers are able to predict when monkeys will switch from exploiting a known resource to exploring their options. (more…)
Health & Medicine - Sep 21, 2009 18:32 - 2 Comments
Gene bends rules of brain development
UNC CHAPEL HILL (US)—A critical gene has been identified in determining if the brain will develop normally. (more…)
Science & Technology - Sep 11, 2009 9:48 - 0 Comments
Blame the metal, not the nanotubes
Metal catalysts used to create carbon nanotubes can block a key signaling pathway in neurons. Experiments show the metal particles tend to plug cellular pores normally reserved for calcium ions. (Credit: Lorin Jakubek/Brown University)
Science & Technology - Jun 15, 2009 15:34 - 0 Comments
Mice mom better at answering baby’s call
Photo montage courtesy of Jack Kearse and the Liu Lab
Health & Medicine - May 6, 2009 14:34 - 0 Comments
What’s that, dear? Estrogen linked to hearing
U. ROCHESTER (US)—Scientists have discovered that the hormone estrogen plays a pivotal role in how the brain processes sounds, opening the door to new ways of treating hearing deficiencies. (more…)
